Management system, image forming apparatus, and method thereof for managing an operation state of the image forming apparatus

ABSTRACT

An image forming apparatus according to the present invention includes a request unit configured to transmit a registration confirmation request that includes identification information of the image forming apparatus to the management server in response to an operation by a user for starting a monitoring service with the management server after the image forming apparatus is installed in the client system, an analysis unit configured to analyze a response from the management server to the registration confirmation request, and a storage unit configured to store a retry period included in the response if an analysis result of the response indicates non-registration. The request unit retransmits a registration confirmation request during the stored retry period until a response indicating registration completion is received from the management server.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to processing performed in a systemconfigured to monitor and manage an operation state of an image formingapparatus when starting monitoring based on registration of managementinformation about the image forming apparatus in a management server.

2. Description of the Related Art

Conventionally, a service person performs an installation operation ofan image forming apparatus in a client system environment, and aconfirmation operation regarding whether communication between theinstalled image forming apparatus and a management server is normal. Inview of this situation, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.2006-340239 discusses a system in which a button for performing acommunication test with a management system is provided on an operationpanel of an image forming apparatus, and when the communication test issuccessfully performed by pressing the button, the management andmonitoring of the image forming apparatus is started.

In principle, once a contract relating to utilization has been concludedbetween a vendor and a customer, and the image forming apparatus hasbeen installed in the client system, the apparatus should be able to beused by the client as soon as possible. Moreover, the installed imageforming apparatus should transmit the information required formonitoring to the monitoring server so that the monitoring service canbe started.

However, to provide an appropriate monitoring service based on thecontract, verification between information included in the communicationtest from the installed image forming apparatus and managementinformation in the management server has to be confirmed. Therefore, itwould be desirable to enable the monitoring service to be started byquickly performing a communication test on the image forming apparatusside in conjunction with registration of the management informationabout the management server.

In addition, recently, in order to reduce the service costs ofdispatching a service person, measures are being discussed for reducingthe number of call outs of maintenance-dedicated service person byallowing the image forming apparatus delivery and installation companyor the client system administrator to easily perform operations such asthe above-described installation confirmation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a system that enables, at anappropriate timing, transmission of information about an image formingapparatus and start of a monitoring service based thereon, whilereducing service person call outs.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a management systemincludes an image forming apparatus installed in a client system and amanagement server for monitoring the image forming apparatus. The imageforming apparatus includes a request unit configured to transmit aregistration confirmation request that includes identificationinformation of the image forming apparatus to the management server inresponse to an operation by a user for starting a monitoring servicewith the management server after the image forming apparatus isinstalled in the client system, an analysis unit configured to analyze aresponse from the management server to the registration confirmationrequest, a start control unit configured to start transmission ofinformation according to the monitoring service if an analysis result ofthe response indicates registration completion, a storage unitconfigured to store a retry period included in the response if ananalysis result of the response indicates non-registration, and atransmission unit configured to, if an error occurs in the image formingapparatus, transmit information about the error to the managementserver. The management server includes a determination unit configuredto, if a registration confirmation request is received from the imageforming apparatus, determine whether identification information includedin the registration confirmation request is registered as managementinformation indicating the image forming apparatus that is to be atarget of the monitoring service, and a response unit configured totransmit a response indicating registration completion to the imageforming apparatus if it is determined by the determination unit that theregistration confirmation request is registered as managementinformation, and if it is determined by the determination unit that theregistration confirmation request is not registered as managementinformation, transmit a response that indicates non-registration to theimage forming apparatus and includes a retry period. The request unit isconfigured to retransmit a registration confirmation request during thestored retry period until a response indicating registration completionis received from the management server, and the transmission unit isconfigured to transmit error information according to an occurrence of aspecific error which is apart of the monitoring service, even before aresponse indicating registration completion is received from themanagement server.

Further features and aspects of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of exemplaryembodiments with reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of the specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments, features,and aspects of the invention and, together with the description, serveto explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a connection relationship between an image formingapparatus and a management server via the Internet.

FIG. 2 is a hardware configuration diagram of an image formingapparatus.

FIG. 3 is a hardware configuration diagram of a management server.

FIG. 4 is a software configuration diagram of an image formingapparatus.

FIG. 5 is a software configuration diagram of a management server.

FIG. 6 is a table used by a management server to manage informationrelating to an image forming apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a table used by a management server to manage a retry periodfor respective destinations.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by an imageforming apparatus according to a first exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating registration confirmation processingperformed by a management server according to the first exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 10 illustrates a list of serious errors used in a second exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 11 illustrates management information relating to a vendor.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of the content of a registrationconfirmation request according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating processing performed by an imageforming apparatus according to a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating registration confirmation processingperformed by a management server according to the second exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example of an operation screen for starting amonitoring service.

FIG. 16 illustrates an example of an operation screen when themonitoring service failed to start up.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Various exemplary embodiments, features, and aspects of the inventionwill be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates a connection relationship between an image formingapparatus main body and a management server via the Internet accordingto a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention. In the presentinvention, a management system is configured so as to include at leastan image forming apparatus and a management server.

The system illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a local area network (LAN)101, an image forming apparatus 102, a proxy server 103, a firewall 104provided to increase Intranet security, a personal computer (PC) 105,and a management server 106. The image forming apparatus 102 may include(not illustrated) functions such as FAX and copying. The PC 105 is usedwhen a general user issue instructions, such as a print instruction. Theabove-described units are connected to each other by the local areanetwork (LAN) 101. The management server 106 manages the operationalstate of the image forming apparatus in an integrated manner. The imageforming apparatus 102, the proxy server 103, and the firewall 104 areinterconnected via the LAN 101 in an Intranet environment (clientsystem) 107. In actual practice, a plurality of Intranet environments107 and the management server 106 are interconnected via the Internet108.

The image forming apparatus 102 performs communication based on its owncommunication schedule via the LAN 101, and transmits device information(operational information such as a counter value, an operational statelog, and error information, and identification information) about theimage forming apparatus 102 to the management server 106 via theInternet 108. Examples of the communication method used during thisoperation include the one using a management information base (MIB) viasimple network management protocol (SNMP). A counter value is a valueindicating count information, such as the total number of sheets printedby the image forming apparatus, the number of printed sheets for eachregistered section or user, or the number of times a mounted part hasbeen used.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, although thecommunication protocol regarding communication to the management server106 is assumed to be hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP) or HTTP Secure(HTTPS), the present exemplary embodiment is not especially limited tothese. For example, in the example illustrated in FIG. 1, the imageforming apparatus 102 transmits data to the management server 106 viathe proxy server 103 and the firewall 104 utilizing HTTPS.

FIG. 2 illustrates the configuration of the image forming apparatus 102according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. As theimage forming apparatus 102, apparatuses such as a digital multifunctionperipheral, a facsimile apparatus, a laser beam printer, an inkjetprinter, and a scanner apparatus can be applied in the presentinvention.

The image forming apparatus 102 includes a central processing unit (CPU)201, a random access memory (RAM) 202, a read-only memory (ROM) 203, ahard disk device (HDD) 204, a network interface (I/F) 205, an internalbus 206, a device control unit 207, and a printing unit 208 thatincludes a fixing device and the like.

The CPU 201 executes programs (including programs for realizing thevarious processes illustrated in below-described FIG. 4) that are storedin the ROM 203. In addition, the CPU 201 entirely controls therespective devices via the internal bus 206. Destination information(e.g., region information about the country where a client system islocated) indicating a region where the image forming apparatus 102 is tobe shipped is also included in the ROM 203. For example, the language tobe displayed by an input/output device 210 is determined based on thedestination information. The RAM 202 functions as a memory or a workarea of the CPU 201. The network I/F 205 exchanges data in one directionor in both directions with an external network device or a PC via theLAN 101. The device control unit 207 controls the printing unit 208.

The CPU 201 executes the programs along with the RAM 202 and the ROM203, and performs processing for recording image data on a recordingmedium, such as the HDD 204. The HDD 204 functions as an externalstorage device, which in addition to storing image data, can also storethe above-described counter information, system information, andmonitoring information instead of the backup RAM 202. The input/outputdevice 210 receives inputs (scans, button inputs etc.) from a user, andtransmits instructions based on those inputs to the respectiveprocessing units via an input/output I/F 209.

FIG. 3 illustrates the configuration of the management server 106according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. Themanagement server 106 includes a CPU 301 that executes programs(including programs for realizing the various processes illustrated inbelow-described FIG. 5) that are stored in the ROM 203. In addition, theCPU 301 entirely controls the respective devices via an internal bus306. A RAM 302, a ROM 303, an HDD 304, a network I/F 305, and aninput/output I/F 307 are connected to the internal bus 306.

The input/output I/F 307 includes, for example, a personal system 2(PS/2) I/F, a universal serial bus (USB) I/F, and an analog or digitaldisplay device I/F. An input/output device 308 is a keyboard, a mouse, acathode ray tube (CRT), a liquid crystal display, or the like, which canbe connected to the management server 106 via the input/output I/F 307.

The management server 106 is connected by the network I/F 305 to theInternet 108 via the LAN 101 and the Intranet environment 107, so thatthe management server 106 can communicate with the image formingapparatus 102 and the PC 105. The CPU 301 executes programs along withthe RAM 302 and the ROM 303, and performs processing for recording imagedata on a recording medium, such as the HDD 304. The HDD 304 functionsas an external storage device, which stores management information aboutthe image forming apparatus 102, and can also store system informationand processing information instead of the backup RAM 302.

FIG. 4 illustrates a software module configuration of the image formingapparatus 102. When the programs according to the present invention areexecuted by the CPU in the image forming apparatus 102, the functions ofthe illustrated modules are realized.

A communication unit 401 controls the transmission of device informationrelating to the image forming apparatus 102 to the management server106. Further, the communication unit 401 controls reception ofinstructions and information transmitted from the management server 106.The transmission and reception is performed using, for example, singlemail transfer protocol (SMTP) and HTTP/HTTPS.

A storage unit 402 exchanges information with the storage areas of theRAM 202, the ROM 203, and the storage device 204. The storage unit 402also controls the storage of data indicating the operation history andvarious abnormal states of the image forming apparatus 102.Communication information (an internet protocol (IP) address etc.) aboutthe management server 106 managing the image forming apparatus 102 isincluded in management server information managed by the storage unit402. A below-described retry period used to retry transmission of aregistration confirmation request by the communication unit 401 isstored in a predetermined storage area.

An image forming unit 403 has a function of generating print data andcontrolling output. A device information control unit 404 managesprinting control and the abnormal states of the image forming apparatus102, and also manages counter information and notification information.Further, the device information control unit 404 performs controlrelating to tint adjustment, print mode, and settings of otherfunctions. An operation unit 405 is an interface for enabling the imageforming apparatus 102 to receive operation instructions, such as a printinstruction from a user.

A display unit 406 controls display of appropriate information to theuser, for example. Examples of such information include statusinformation and setting information about the image forming apparatus.In addition, the display unit 406 performs display control of variousbuttons, and detects an instruction from the user when the button ispressed. A command generation unit 407 generates a transmission commandfor transmitting various information pieces managed by the deviceinformation control unit 404 to the management server 106. An analysisunit 408 analyzes response data from the management server 106.

FIG. 5 illustrates a software module configuration of the managementserver 106. When the programs according to the present invention areexecuted by the CPU in the management server 106, the functions of theillustrated modules are realized.

A communication unit 501 has a function of performing communicationcontrol with the image forming apparatus 102, for example. Morespecifically, the communication unit 501 performs reception control ofthe device information transmitted from the image forming apparatus 102,and transmission control of necessary instruction and information to theimage forming apparatus 102.

A storage unit 502 exchanges information with the storage areas of theRAM 302, the ROM 303, and the storage device 304. The storage unit 502also stores device information about the image forming apparatus to bemanaged. More specifically, in addition to management information, suchas vendor information, client information, identification informationabout the apparatus, and communication information, the storage unit 502stores operational information indicating an operational state.

A control unit 503 has a control function of monitoring the imageforming apparatus 102 and managing the information necessary forrealizing a maintenance operation. The control unit 503 will bedescribed below in terms of its separate function modules, such as avendor information management unit 505, a device information managementunit 506, and a client information management unit 507.

A notification management unit 504 generates notification informationand designates a notification destination based on the state of theimage forming apparatus, and generates notification data. Examples ofthe notifications include a maintenance request notification to theservice person who maintains the image forming apparatus 102 and areplenishment request notification of consumables. Examples ofconsumables in the image forming apparatus include toner/ink cartridgesand replaceable component units.

The vendor information management unit 505 manages information about acompany responsible for management and support of the image formingapparatus 102 installed in the client system. The device informationmanagement unit 506 manages various information pieces about the imageforming apparatus 102 to be maintained. The device informationmanagement unit 506 manages, as a management target, identificationinformation (a serial number or model information) for identifying animage forming apparatus, maintenance history, information about anadministrator of the image forming apparatus, consumables managementinformation about the image forming apparatus, and operationalinformation transmitted from the image forming apparatus.

The client information management unit 507 manages information about theclient using the image forming apparatus 102. Among the clientinformation is included information relating to a maintenance contractwith the vendor. A consumables inventory management unit 508 manages theinventory of consumables such as toner/ink and parts. More specifically,the consumables inventory management unit 508 reduces the inventorystored by the client based on information indicating a toner/inkremaining amount and information indicating parts replacementtransmitted from the image forming apparatus 102, and issues a deliveryrequest for a consumable item in cooperation with the notificationmanagement unit 504 when an inventory level is below a set threshold,for example.

A display unit 509 displays device information stored in the storageunit 502 as a Web screen. A World Wide Web (WWW) server program isrunning in the management server 106. Consequently, a service personfrom the vendor can view the above-described information using a Webbrowser on a PC. A command analysis unit 510 analyzes a commandtransmitted from the image forming apparatus 102. An analyzed result isreflected in the storage unit 502, the control unit 503, and the displayunit 509. A response generation unit 511 generates a response to theimage forming apparatus 102 regarding the command analyzed by thecommand analysis unit 510.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example of registered management informationrelating to the image forming apparatus 102 that is stored by themanagement server 106. The information is stored in the storage unit 304of the management server 106, and is handled by the device informationmanagement unit 506. Such management information is registered in themanagement server 106 for all image forming apparatuses whoseoperational information is to be collected and managed, or which are tobe maintained.

The table in FIG. 6 includes various registration management informationitems in a column 601, such as image forming apparatus identificationID, a product name, a media access control (MAC) address, an IP address,and the like, and actual data 602 corresponding to these items for theimage forming apparatus. Information obtained based on the initialcommunication from the image forming apparatus 102 is registered as partof the actual data.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of retry period information for respectivecountries stored by the management server 106. The information is storedin the storage device 304 of the management server 106, handled by aresponse generation unit 511, and included in a below-described responseto a registration confirmation request from the image forming apparatus102. A registration confirmation request transmission interval (every 24hours etc.) during the retry period may also be managed and includedwith a response to the image forming apparatus 102.

In order for the vendor to start an operation of the monitoring serviceof the image forming apparatus 102, the management informationillustrated in FIG. 6 about the image forming apparatus 102 needs to beregistered in the management server 106. It is desirable for the vendorin each country to flexibly perform the installation of the imageforming apparatus 102 in the client system and the series of proceduresrelating to registration of the management information in the managementserver 106. Therefore, the system is configured so that the vendor ineach country can set differently the below-described retry period forthe registration confirmation request performed by the image formingapparatus 102.

An example of a series of procedures that is different for vendors ineach country is the installation operation. Some vendors may perform theinstallation operation in the client system within a few days after theregistration of the management information in the management server 106.Whereas, other vendors may perform the installation operation in theclient system before registering the management information in themanagement server 106. This is because a different operation is requireddepending on the situation of the client system that is to be installedand the region where the client system is located.

“Start of the operation of the monitoring service” means to transmit allthe operational information pieces about the image forming apparatus tothe management server 106, and start arranging the automatic maintenanceof the image forming apparatus utilizing the operational information bythe management server 106, the automatic delivery of consumables, andthe usage status response service.

FIG. 8 is an example of a flowchart illustrating processing performed bythe image forming apparatus 102 to start a monitoring service by issuinga registration confirmation request to the management server 106 basedon the press of a button. The registration confirmation request isissued by an installation company or a client administrator when animage forming apparatus is installed in a client system. The programrelating to the processing illustrated in the flowchart is stored in theROM of the image forming apparatus, loaded into the RAM, and executed bythe CPU.

In step S801, the image forming apparatus 102 detects that a monitoringservice start button is pressed. The monitoring service start button isdisplayed on an operation panel, which is an example of the input/outputdevice 210, in the image forming apparatus 102. The operation performedon the panel will be described below with reference to FIG. 15.

In step S802, the image forming apparatus 102 issues a registrationconfirmation request to the management server 106 to confirm whether itsown management information is registered therein.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example of the contents of a registrationconfirmation request. The registration confirmation request is generatedby the command generation unit 407 in the image forming apparatus 102,and is transmitted to the management server 106 by the communicationunit 401. The registration confirmation request includes, in addition toa product ID and a product name, a MAC address and an IP address.

The registration confirmation request further includes destinationinformation 1201 and a final flag 1202. The destination information 1201indicates the region where the image forming apparatus 102 is to beinstalled. The destination information 1201 is stored in the RAM 202 ofthe image forming apparatus 102 and set at the time of shipment from thefactory. The final flag 1202 indicates whether a registrationconfirmation request to the management server 106 from the image formingapparatus 102 is the final response for a below-described retry period.

In step S803, the image forming apparatus 102 analyzes a responseindicating the result of the registration confirmation request returnedfrom the management server 106. If the analysis result in step S803indicates that registration has been completed (that its own informationhas been registered in the management server 106) (YES in step S803),the processing proceeds to step S804. If the analysis result indicatesthat registration has not been completed (NO in step S803), theprocessing proceeds to step S805.

In step S804, the image forming apparatus 102 starts the monitoringservice, and then ends the processing illustrated in the flowchart.Consequently, a post-installation initial setting based on the contactis completed, and the monitoring service is started based on thetransmission information (operational information etc.) about the imageforming apparatus to the management server 106. If the analysis resultof the registration confirmation request in step S803 indicates thatregistration has been completed (YES in step S803), this means that theinstallation operation of the image forming apparatus in the clientsystem was performed after registration of the management information inthe management server 106 by the vendor.

On the other hand, in step S805, the image forming apparatus 102analyzes whether the response from the management server 106 includes aretry period. If the analysis result in step S805 indicates that theresponse from the management server 106 includes a retry period (YES instep S805), the processing proceeds to step S806. Whereas if not, (NO instep S805), the processing proceeds to step S807.

In step S806, the image forming apparatus 102 stores the acquired retryperiod. The retry period returned from the management server 106 is asillustrated in FIG. 7. If the response from the management server 106does not include a retry period, this means that the retry perioddesignated from the management server 106 is stored by the image formingapparatus 102.

In step S807, the image forming apparatus 102 confirms whether thepresent time is during the retry period of the registration confirmationrequest. If the confirmation result indicates that the present time isduring the retry period (YES in step S807), the processing returns tostep S802, and the image forming apparatus 102 again issues aregistration confirmation request.

On the other hand, if the present time is not during the retry period(NO in step S807), the processing proceeds to step S808. In step S808,the image forming apparatus 102 displays a message on the operationpanel indicating that registration on the management server 106 side isnot completed (FIG. 16). By seeing the message, the user recognizes thatit is necessary to again perform the operation to issue a registrationconfirmation request. Simultaneously with the display, the image formingapparatus 102 turns off the present service (i.e., the function relatingto the series of processes for starting the monitoring service), whichautomatically issues a registration confirmation request, and ends theprocessing illustrated in the flowchart.

FIG. 9 is an example of a flowchart illustrating registrationconfirmation processing performed by the management server 106 when aregistration confirmation request from the image forming apparatus 102is received. The program relating to the processing illustrated in theflowchart is stored in the ROM of the image forming apparatus, loadedinto the RAM, and executed by the CPU.

In step S901, the management server 106 receives information transmittedfrom the image forming apparatus 102. In step S902, the managementserver 106 determines whether the information received in step S901 is aregistration confirmation request. If it is determined that theinformation is a registration confirmation request from the imageforming apparatus 102 (YES in step S902), the processing proceeds tostep S903. If not (NO in step S902), the processing proceeds to stepS907. Instep S907, the management server 106 performs various types ofinformation processing based on the information received from the imageforming apparatus 102. A detailed description of the processing in stepS907 will not be given here.

In step S903, the management server 106 confirms whether the managementinformation about the image forming apparatus 102, which is the sourceof the registration confirmation request, is registered as in the tableillustrated in FIG. 6. More specifically, information for identifyingthe image forming apparatus 102, such as an identification ID, isincluded in the registration confirmation request, as illustrated inFIG. 12. By comparing the information with the management informationabout the image forming apparatus 102 registered in the managementserver 106 (FIG. 6), the management server 106 determines whethermanagement information about the image forming apparatus 102, which isthe source of the registration confirmation request, is registered inthe management server 106.

In step S904, the management server 106 confirms whether the requestfrom the image forming apparatus 102 is the first registrationconfirmation request. If it is confirmed that the request from the imageforming apparatus 102 is the first registration confirmation request(YES in step S904), the processing proceeds to step S905. In step S905,the management server 106 returns the registration confirmation resultand the retry period to the image forming apparatus 102, and ends theprocessing illustrated in the flowchart. The retry period is asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 7. If it is confirmed that therequest from the image forming apparatus 102 is not the firstregistration confirmation request (NO in step S904), the processingproceeds to step S906. In step S906, the management server 106 returnsthe registration confirmation result to the image forming apparatus 102,and ends the processing illustrated in the flowchart.

In steps S905 and S906, if a response indicating that registration hasfinished (completed) is returned, the monitoring service of the imageforming apparatus 102 will be started. More specifically, a periodictransmission schedule of counter information and a list of errorinformation to be notified are transmitted to the image formingapparatus, and the initial setting for transmitting the informationrequired for maintenance and reporting is reflected in the image formingapparatus.

FIG. 15 illustrates an example of a display on the input/output device210 in the image forming apparatus 102 according to the presentinvention. The display of information on the input/output device 210 iscontrolled by the display unit 406.

The image forming apparatus 102 starts the processing relating to theregistration confirmation request (FIG. 8) when a user switches thesetting of a monitoring service start button 1501 illustrated in FIG. 15from OFF to ON. Once the monitoring service is switched ON, the imageforming apparatus 102 ignores cases when the button is again pressedwhile the image forming apparatus 102 is confirming registration withthe management server 106 (during the retry period). As described above,after the retry period, the display relating to the monitoring servicefunction is changed to OFF, and a message is displayed indicating thatthe monitoring service could not be started as illustrated in a messagebox 1601 in FIG. 16. Thus, an administrator of the client system maycheck the message illustrated in FIG. 16, and again operate themonitoring service start button based on the display illustrated in FIG.15.

According to the configuration of the present exemplary embodiment, theinstallation company or the client administrator of the image formingapparatus can easily execute start processing for a registrationconfirmation request without a service person in charge of restorationwork, such as apparatus errors, having to visit the client. Further, theimage forming apparatus 102 monitoring service can be started based onthe registration of management information in the management server 106without dispatching a service person.

In a second exemplary embodiment, processing will be described for acase when a part of a monitoring service is started even beforemanagement information about an image forming apparatus 102 isregistered in a management server 106.

More specifically, even if registration confirmation has not beencompleted at the timing of installation of an image forming apparatus ina client environment, it is necessary to perform a restoration operationif a serious error occurs in the image forming apparatus in an operationthat provisionally allows the client to use the image forming apparatus.Consequently, a case will be considered in which, although some part ofthe monitoring service, such as reporting, is not started, themonitoring service such as the monitoring of some error information(service calls etc.) and service person call out are started withoutwaiting for completion of the registration confirmation.

FIG. 10 is an example of a list of error codes of monitoring targetsstored in the image forming apparatus 102. The error code list is a listof important information to be transmitted by the image formingapparatus 102 to the management server 106 even before completion ofregistration confirmation based on a registration confirmation request.Basically, the error code list illustrated in FIG. 10 is separate fromthe code list of error information specified by the management server106 for the image forming apparatus 102 after completion of registrationconfirmation. The list illustrated in FIG. 10 is stored in the storageunit 402 of the image forming apparatus 102. Based on the list, thecommunication unit 401 in the image forming apparatus 102 controls thetransmission to the management server 106 of important errors thatprevent the image forming apparatus 102 from operating, for example,even before completion of registration confirmation by the managementserver 106. In addition, since the various setting values at the time ofinstallation of the image forming apparatus and status information arealso necessary for maintenance, the communication unit 401 transmitssuch information to the management server 106 when an error occurs.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example of an information table relating to avendor stored in the management server 106. The table is stored in thestorage device 304 of the management server 106, and is handled by thestorage unit 502, the vendor information management unit 505, and thedisplay unit 509.

A time zone 1101 in the table indicates a time zone, namely a regionwhere the vender belongs. The management server 106 may determine a timedifference, for example, based on the time zone 1101. An e-mail address1102 of the person in charge from the vendor is the destination forsending notifications, such as an error notification and consumables(toner/ink, parts, etc.) life notification, of information necessary forsupport of the client's image forming apparatus 102.

FIG. 13 is an example of a flowchart illustrating processing performedby the image forming apparatus 102 to start a monitoring service byissuing a registration confirmation request to the management server 106based on the press of a button according to the second exemplaryembodiment. Since the processing performed in steps S1301 to S1304 andS1306 to S1308 is the same as the processing performed in steps S801 toS804 and S806 to S807, a detailed description of the steps is omittedhere.

In step S1305, a monitoring service is started only for importantinformation (the list of serious errors in FIG. 10). More specifically,the communication unit 401 starts control of transmission to themanagement server 106 based on the occurrence of a serious error. On theother hand, since registration confirmation is not finished at thisstage, other monitoring services such as a consumables delivery serviceand a reposting service are not started.

In step S1308, if it is confirmed that the present time is not duringthe retry period of the registration confirmation request (NO in stepS1308), the processing proceeds to step S1309. In step S1309, the imageforming apparatus 102 issues a final registration confirmation request.More specifically, the image forming apparatus 102 issues a registrationconfirmation request that includes information indicating that therequest is retransmission of a final registration confirmation requestfor the retry period using the flag 1202 illustrated in FIG. 12.

In step S1310, the image forming apparatus 102 analyzes a responseindicating the result of the registration confirmation request returnedfrom the management server 106. If the analysis result indicates thatthe information about the image forming apparatus 102 has beenregistered in the management server 106 (YES in step S1310), theprocessing proceeds to step S1304. If the information about the imageforming apparatus 102 has not been registered (NO in step S1310), theprocessing proceeds to step S1311.

In step S1311, the image forming apparatus 102 displays a message on theoperation panel indicating that registration on the management server106 side is not completed (FIG. 16). Simultaneously with the display,the image forming apparatus 102 turns off the present service (i.e., thefunction relating to the series of processes for starting the monitoringservice), which automatically issues a registration confirmationrequest, and ends the processing illustrated in the flowchart.

FIG. 14 is an example of a flowchart illustrating registrationconfirmation processing performed by the management server 106 when aregistration confirmation request from the image forming apparatus 102is received. Since the processing performed in steps S1401 to S1405 andS1409 is the same as the processing performed in steps S901 to S905 andS907, a detailed description of the steps is omitted here.

In step S1404, if it is confirmed that the request from the imageforming apparatus 102 is not the first registration confirmation request(NO in step S1404), the processing proceeds to step S1406. In stepS1406, the management server 106 determines whether the finalregistration confirmation request is received from the image formingapparatus 102. The determination in step S1406 is performed based on theflag 1202.

If it is confirmed that the request is the final registrationconfirmation request (YES in step S1406), the processing proceeds tostep S1407, and if not (NO in step S1406), the processing proceeds tostep S1408. In step S1408, the management server 106 returns theregistration confirmation result to the image forming apparatus 102, andends the processing illustrated in the flowchart.

In step S1407, the management server 106 returns the registrationconfirmation result to the image forming apparatus 102. Further, themanagement server 106 notifies the vendor in charge, by e-mail or thelike, of a delay in registration of the management information about theimage forming apparatus 102 in the management server 106. The address ofthe vendor in charge is specified based on the destination information1201 included in the registration confirmation request transmitted fromthe image forming apparatus 102 and the time zone 1101 included in thevendor information (FIG. 11) stored by the management server 106.Regarding specification of the address, in addition to determining theaddress based on destination information about the image formingapparatus 102, the address may be determined by causing the companyinstalling the image forming apparatus 102 to input information forspecifying the address of the vendor in charge via the operation panel(input/output device 210) at the time of installation. Examples ofinformation for specifying the address include an ID of the vendormanaging the image forming apparatus, a country code, and the e-mailaddress of the person in charge.

In steps S1405, S1407, and S1408, if a response indicating thatregistration has finished (completed) is returned, the monitoringservices other than the serious error monitoring services of the imageforming apparatus 102 are also started.

According to the present exemplary embodiment, even if registration ofmanagement information in the management server 106 is delayed, aserious error that has occurred when the client provisionally used theimage forming apparatus 102 is transmitted to the management server 106.Therefore, some of the maintenance services, such as a restorationoperation for that error, can be provided. In addition, a delay inregistration of the management information can be notified to theappropriate person in charge via e-mail.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all modifications, equivalent structures, and functions.

This application claims priority from Japanese Patent Application No.2011-263421 filed Dec. 1, 2011, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. A management system comprising an image formingapparatus installed in a client system and a management server formonitoring the image forming apparatus, wherein the image formingapparatus comprises: a request unit configured to transmit aregistration confirmation request that includes identificationinformation of the image forming apparatus to the management server inresponse to an operation by a user for starting a monitoring servicewith the management server after the image forming apparatus isinstalled in the client system; an analysis unit configured to analyze aresponse from the management server to the registration confirmationrequest; a start control unit configured to start transmission ofinformation according to the monitoring service if an analysis result ofthe response indicates registration completion; a storage unitconfigured to store a retry period included in the response if ananalysis result of the response indicates non-registration; and atransmission unit configured to, if an error occurs in the image formingapparatus, transmit information about the error to the managementserver, wherein the management server comprises: a determination unitconfigured to, if a registration confirmation request is received fromthe image forming apparatus, determine whether identificationinformation included in the registration confirmation request isregistered as management information indicating the image formingapparatus that is to be a target of the monitoring service; and aresponse unit configured to transmit a response indicating registrationcompletion to the image forming apparatus if it is determined by thedetermination unit that the registration confirmation request isregistered as management information, and if it is determined by thedetermination unit that the registration confirmation request is notregistered as management information, transmit a response that indicatesnon-registration to the image forming apparatus and includes a retryperiod, wherein the request unit is configured to retransmit aregistration confirmation request during the stored retry period until aresponse indicating registration completion is received from themanagement server, and wherein the transmission unit is configured totransmit error information according to an occurrence of a specificerror which is a part of the monitoring service, even before a responseindicating registration completion is received from the managementserver.
 2. The management system according to claim 1, wherein themanagement server further comprises a notification unit configured to,if a registration confirmation request from the image forming apparatusincludes information indicating that the registration confirmationrequest is a final request for the retry period and destinationinformation, notify an address specified from the destinationinformation of a delay in registration of management information aboutthe image forming apparatus.
 3. A method executed in a management systemcomprising an image forming apparatus installed in a client system and amanagement server for monitoring the image forming apparatus, the methodcomprising: transmitting, via the image forming apparatus, aregistration confirmation request that includes identificationinformation of the image forming apparatus to the management server inresponse to an operation by a user for starting a monitoring servicewith the management server after the image forming apparatus isinstalled in the client system; analyzing, via the image formingapparatus, a response from the management server to the registrationconfirmation request; starting, via the image forming apparatus,transmission of information according to the monitoring service if ananalysis result of the response indicates registration completion;storing, via the image forming apparatus, a retry period included in theresponse if an analysis result of the response indicatesnon-registration; transmitting, via the image forming apparatus,information about the error to the management server, if an error occursin the image forming apparatus; determining, via the management server,if a registration confirmation request is received from the imageforming apparatus, whether identification information included in theregistration confirmation request is registered as managementinformation indicating the image forming apparatus that is to be atarget of the monitoring service; transmitting, via the managementserver, a response indicating registration completion to the imageforming apparatus if it is determined that the registration confirmationrequest is registered as management information, and if it is determinedthat the registration confirmation request is not registered asmanagement information, transmitting a response that indicatesnon-registration to the image forming apparatus and includes a retryperiod; retransmitting, via the image forming apparatus, a registrationconfirmation request during the stored retry period until a responseindicating registration completion is received from the managementserver; and transmitting, via the image forming apparatus, errorinformation according to an occurrence of a specific error which is apart of the monitoring service, even before a response indicatingregistration completion is received from the management server.
 4. Animage forming apparatus installed in a client system that is configuredto communicate with a management server, the image forming apparatuscomprising: a request unit configured to transmit a registrationconfirmation request that includes identification information of theimage forming apparatus to the management server in response to anoperation by a user for starting a monitoring service with themanagement server after the image forming apparatus is installed in theclient system; an analysis unit configured to analyze a response fromthe management server to the registration confirmation request; a startcontrol unit configured to start transmission of information accordingto the monitoring service if an analysis result of the responseindicates registration completion; and a storage unit configured tostore a retry period included in the response if an analysis result ofthe response indicates non-registration, wherein the request unit isconfigured to retransmit a registration confirmation request during thestored retry period until a response indicating registration completionis received from the management server.
 5. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 4, further comprising a transmission unit configuredto, if an error occurs in the image forming apparatus, transmitinformation about the error to the management server, wherein thetransmission unit is configured to transmit error information accordingto an occurrence of a specific error which is a part of the monitoringservice, even before a response indicating registration completion isreceived from the management server.
 6. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein if a final registration confirmationrequest for the retry period is retransmitted by the request unit, theregistration confirmation request includes information indicating thatthe registration confirmation request is a final request for the retryperiod and destination information.
 7. The image forming apparatusaccording to claim 4, further comprising a display unit configured to,if the retry period elapses before a response indicating registrationcompletion is received from the management server, display a messageindicating that a monitoring service could not be started.
 8. A methodexecuted in an image forming apparatus installed in a client system thatis configured to communicate with a management server, the methodcomprising: transmitting a registration confirmation request thatincludes identification information of the image forming apparatus tothe management server in response to an operation by a user for startinga monitoring service with the management server after the image formingapparatus is installed in the client system; analyzing a response fromthe management server to the registration confirmation request; startingtransmission of information according to the monitoring service if ananalysis result of the response indicates registration completion;storing a retry period included in the response if an analysis result ofthe response indicates non-registration; and retransmitting aregistration confirmation request during the stored retry period until aresponse indicating registration completion is received from themanagement server.
 9. A non-transitory computer readable storage mediumon which is stored a computer program for making a computer execute amethod for an image forming apparatus that is installed in a clientsystem configured to communicate with a management server, the methodcomprising: transmitting a registration confirmation request thatincludes identification information of the image forming apparatus tothe management server in response to an operation by a user for startinga monitoring service with the management server after the image formingapparatus is installed in the client system; analyzing a response fromthe management server to the registration confirmation request; startingtransmission of information according to the monitoring service if ananalysis result of the response indicates registration completion;storing a retry period included in the response if an analysis result ofthe response indicates non-registration; and retransmitting aregistration confirmation request during the stored retry period until aresponse indicating registration completion is received from themanagement server.